Cohen Honors Military Olympians

Defense Secretary William S. Cohen praises military Olympians and cites their "nobility of spirit" for their contributions to the Sydney Summer Games. Photo by Jim Garamone. (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Cohen and Deputy Defense Secretary Rudy De Leon met with the athletes and thanked them for the way they represented America’s military at the 2000 Games.

Cohen told the athletes that they learn things as athletes that serve them well as service members. “All the things one learns while participating in athletics -- discipline, sacrifice, the fact that you have to play by the rules, winning, losing is preparation for life itself,” he said.

He praised the athletes and said they exemplified what the ancient Greeks called “nobility of spirit.” He said all in DoD are proud “of the job you’ve done as great warriors and as great athletes.”

One military athlete won a medal during the Games. He was Army Sgt. 1st Class James Todd Graves who received a bronze in skeet shooting. Graves is a member of the Army Marksmanship Unit, Fort Benning, Ga.

The military Olympians came from a number of sports. The majority were shooters, but there were also two wrestlers, a modern pentathlete, a boxer and a rower.

Defense Secretary William S. Cohen meets with military members of the U.S. Olympic team in his Pentagon office. Cohen thanked the Olympians Nov. 28 for representing the U.S. armed forces to the people of Australia. Photo by Jim Garamone.Download screen-resolutionDownload high-resolution